Mary Jane Harned went home to be with her parents and the Lord the morning of August 1, 2022. Mary Jane was born on September 2, 1949. She and her brother Douglas Hembree came from two beautiful individuals, P.W. Hembree and Lucy K. Hembree. Mary Jane grew up in Fountain City here in Knoxville, Tennessee. She had a loving childhood and excelled at academics, especially Mathematics. Mary Jane went to the University of Tennessee and received a Master’s in Education which she used later to teach for 43 years at Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. There at UTK she met her best friend, Trish Griffith, and her future husband William Douglas Harned. She and Doug had two adoring children, Dean Douglas Harned and Elizabeth Marie Harned (Lynch). She will be missed by her sweet daughter-in-law Allison Lesley Harned and son-in-law Aaron Matthew Lynch.
Mary Jane was always a fast learner and loved to use her talents in many crafts and hobbies, especially making jewelry. She and her daughter Elizabeth enjoyed doing craft shows together and sold their pieces at Knoxville Soup, Candle, and Gifts on Gay Street here in Knoxville.
Mary Jane and Doug loved traveling to beautiful places like the islands of Hawaii and Alaska. She especially enjoyed many trips with her children to the beach and Disney World.
Mary Jane’s grandchildren brought her more joy in her later life than anything else. She leaves behind three beautiful grandsons that adored their Grammy very much: Lincoln James Harned, Liam Matthew Lynch, and Ethan Aaron Lynch.
Mary Jane was loved tremendously by her family and her heart will remain with them forever. The world lost one of its brightest lights, but her family will be reunited with her again one day.
The family will hold a visitation from 4:00pm-6:00pm on Friday, August 5, 2022 at Central Baptist Church in Fountain City. A service will follow at 6:00pm.
Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Harned family and invites you to view and sign the online registry.
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